Our master or primary bathroom is one of the aspects of this home that disappointed me when we bought this house 6 years ago. I had dreams of a grand space with a large soaking tup and vast amounts of storage.
Instead, our bathroom has a narrow stall shower, a 24 inch vanity, and very minimal storage. Because a full gut and renovation is not in our budget, we had to get creative with ways to make this small space feel much larger than what it is.
All of these simple style tips will work in any space, but if you can relate to our tiny primary bathroom, this post is dedicated to you! xx
5 ways to make small a bathroom feel larger
1. Select bold, dark color
It seems counterintuitive, but painting a small space dark actually creates the illusion of a larger space!
Here are a few examples from our home that blew us away when we went dark:
2. Paint the Ceiling
You may have read in this previous post, that I am a big fan of painting trim and doors the same color as the walls to give the illusion of a larger space. But I have never painted the CEILING the same color as the walls before!
While we chose a different coordinating color for the door and trim, (more about that in this post) painting the ceiling the same moody warm green makes the space look enormous – even with one small window offering natural light!
And trying this trick in a small bathroom means you won’t have a lot of ceiling to paint, which is a great way to take a big style risk!
3. Think about your Shower Door
The top of our shower door sat about 2 feet below the ceiling and I realized it actually created the look of a shorter room – much like when curtains are hung too low.
Originally, we chose a tall shower door with clear glass that would reach almost reach the ceiling, but with our cottage style in mind, we opted for a shower curtain (which is actually a table cloth!) which we mounted at ceiling height.
Now when I stand in the shower, it feels huge even though we didn’t change the physical size!!
curtain rod | curtain clips | shower curtain | brass light switch plate | soap dispenser
4. Consider your Trim
While we are very capable of changing our baseboards and adding trim for depth and dimension, I wanted to try a new and EASY technique in this space. Instead of spending money to replace our baseboards, we simply added to them to give the illusion of taller moudling. Read all about how we did it here!
For more inspiration on how trim can create the illusion of a larger space, don’t miss these posts!
Adding Trim to the Dining Room
Board and Batten in the Entryway
Elevating the Look of our Powder Room
Paintable Textured Wallpaper in the Bedroom
5. Be mindful of Accessories
I love incorporating functional decor into my spaces! This gorgeous basket from an antique mall serves as decor and conceals our toilet paper.
toilet flush handle | toilet paper holder
Adding hooks to the side of our vanity for washcloths and other small items saves wall space and doesn’t detract from the style of the room.
Last, adding plants whether in a wall planter, hanging from the ceiling, or in a large floor pot, can help cozy up a space while breathing life into it.
top art print | bottom art print
I hope you find some inspiration here for your own spall space and are encouraged that even a room in your home that doesn’t bring you joy can be transformed into something amazing!
xoxo, L
